Flashlight device.



R. M. EATON.

FLASH LIGHT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 001*. 2, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

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RICHARD MAX EATON, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NIAGARA SEARCHLIGHT COMPANY, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A COBPORATIQTOF new YORK.

FLASHLIGH T DEVICE.

inoasso.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 19141.

Application filed October 2, 1913. Serial No. 792,914.

Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descr1p-,

tion of the invention,- such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to searchlights or flashlights, the casings for the same and their batteries, and the circuit connections and arrangement of such casings.

Flash or searchlights of the type to which my invention relates are used for various purposes, such as police work, work about automobiles, etc. In the use about automobiles, when the flashlight is not in use, it. is frequently placed in the tool box or in association with metal tools where-frequently the tools will complete the connections, or such connections will be completed by the metallic parts of the machine and the energy of the batteries expended uselessly. F or example, where the circuit is closed by connecting together two exposed parts, a tool touching each of these parts will complete the circuit and the batteries will become exhausted through useless burning of the lamp.

One of the objects of my invention is to eliminate insulated tubings which readily weanaway and become useless.

Another object of my invention which I attain is the construction of the entire casing ofthe flashlight of metal which can be made to present a more attractive appearance and which is more durable than those covered or partly covered with insulating material.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will probably be better understood from a description of the par-.

ticular embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe drawing. r

Referring now to the drawingand to the embodiment illustrated therein, Figure 1 is a cross section through an embodiment of my invention, illustrating the batteries and lamp inelevation. Fig. 2 is-a front view of the reflector showing the insulation used.

. At 3 I'show the main portion of the easing, here illustrated as tubular in form to properly accommodatethe cylindrical batteries 4:, though of course, this casing may be ofany convenient form. As shown, both ends of the casing are open. Suitable means for closing the lower end is provided, and is here illustrated as a cap 6 connected to the casing in any suitable manner, as by threads .8 upon the cap and 9 upon the lower end of the casing. The lower end of the casing may be ezipanded as shown zit 10 for the purpose-of forming an elevation around the end of the casing, so that the same will not readily slip from the hand of the user.

Means are provided for connecting the casing to one of the poles of the battery, here illustrated as a spring 11, preferably a coil 7 spring, placed in the cap 6 and having a lower outer coil 12 which expands in the bottom of the cap and holds the spring firmly in the cap. The batteries 4 are placed in the casing and the cap screwed down, placing the spring under compression and making a thorough contact.

A funnel-shaped member 15 is provided upon the other end of the casing, here illus-- trated as a separate member connected att.

' 16 to the tube of the casing 3, an annular collar 17 being preferably formed upon the casing 3 against which the edge 18 of the member abuts. Means are provided for protecting the lamp and for transmitting the light, which is here shown as a lens 19 mounted upon the funnel-shaped member 15 and held thereon by an annular member 20 folded at 21 over the edge of the lens. The lens may be fastened in the member 20, the two forming a cap which is fastened to the member 15 in any suitable manner, such as by threads 22 upon the lens and 23 upon the member 15. An annular collar 24 is formed upon the member 15 against which the edge 25 of the cap 20 abuts. The lamp is shown at 30, a socket therefor at 31, in which the lamp is fastened by any suitable means, such as threads 32 upon the lamp and 33 upon an interior bore 3 1 in the socket into which the'lampis screwed. The base part 35 of the lamp forms one of the poles,

ing the lamp in the member15, here shown as a reflector 37 having an opening" 38 in the center into which the lamp socket is.

mounted by any suitable means, such as a collared) on the reflector. The member 37 is insulated from the parts described by insulating material, which preferably consists of a thinlayer 42 of insulating material folded over the edge of the reflector and insulating the edge of the same from the casi1ig;-a's illustrated in Fig. 1. No other parts of the reflector touch the casing, so that this thin layer of insulation is suficient to insulate the lamp terminals one from the other until it is desired to complete the circuit therethrough. It will be seen that the insulation thus employed is concealed so that it connot be worn away or otherwise injured through the normal use. of the instrument.- I also completely conceal all of the connections. to one of the terminals of the lamp so that the same cannot'be reached from the outside and connected through some metallic instrument with the other terminal, causing a useless expendituige of energy and exhaustion of the batteries.

When mounted in the casing, one pole of the battery is connected to the casing through the sprino 11', as described, and the other pole of the battery 43 is connected di-. rectly to the terminal 36 of the lamp, leaving the ,circuitbetween the member 37 and the casing open. 1 provide suitable means to close this 'gapin' the circuit when it is desired to operate the-lamp. This means is here shown as a movable member'50 which engages the casing through contact therewith and which is slidable in said casing to engage the reflector attSO, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the end 51 ofthe member being turned up to form a sliding contact with the reflector so as to insure a bright surface due to the rubbing ofthe' end 51 of the member 50 over the part ofthe-reflector 31,

and thereby a good contact.

A lug 52 is provided near the edge of the casing upon which the member 51 rests and over which it is bent when slid down against the reflector. A catch 53 is provided upon the member 50 into which this lu [venting inadvertent movements 0 the member 50 when the signal. is restored. 1 pro vide suitable means for operatingfthe member 50, which here consists ofa catch 131 made of a long that piece of metal folded up at 62 to form a finger-hold. IA slot 63 is formed in the casing 3 through which the member, 61 is connected to the member 50 by suitable means, such as rivets 64s and 65. The member 61 is insulated from the casing by a layer of thin insulating material 66 to prevent the electric current from reaching the finger of the operator.

When it is desired to retire the signal, the member 61 is pushed toward the cap 6, the edges of the slot 68 serving as guides for the switch, said slot being just about-the width of the rivets 65. This withdraws the fits, preend 51 of the member 50 from the reflector, leaving the circuit of the lamp open, so that it will not be operated. a

When it is desired vto operate the lamp, the member 61 is pushed in the other direction to the position shown in Fig. 1, when the circuitjof the lamp is completed as follows: from the terminal 36, pole 43 of the battery, through the batteries here connected in series to the lower pole of the lower cell 4:, which is exposed and engages the spring 11, through the spring 11, the casing 3, the member 50, the end 51 of the member 50, the reflector 37, the lamp socket the part 35 of the lamp, through the fila ment 70 and to the other terminal 360i the lamp, completing the circuit. The lamp is operated over this circuit as long asde sired, the insulating material at 42 preventingthe current from shunting through the reflector and the casing. It will also'be seen that I have eliminated all soldered connections, which are so detrimental to present devices of this character which are now in use. Owing to thefact that a foaming battery causes corrosion of the small connected strips and opens the circuit. By my invention I am able to employ a permanent casing and eliminating the danger of the opening of the circuit throughthe corrosion of the solder and the consequent insulation of the two soldered parts from each other caused by the conversion of the solder, a conducting material, into a salt, or corrosion of the solder which is an insulating material. I have illustrated this embodiment of my invention for the purpose of explaining the invention, and not with the intention of being limited to the form and details illustrated, since I contemplate numerous and extensive departures-from such form and details.

1 claim I v 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a metal casing, means within said casing for generating an electric "current, an insulating cover for said generating means, an electric'lamp in said casing, means for mounting the lamp in said casing, means entirely within the casing to insulate one terminal of the lamp from the other and "means accessible sfrom the outside of the casing for connectingthe-terminals of the lamp in a circuit including-the generating means. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a metal casing, means in said casingg-l'cr generating electric. current, an

insulating cover for said generating means,

a lamp in said, casing, means entirely within the casing for insulating one of the terminals. of the lamp from the other and means for connecting the terminals of the lamp in a circuit with said generating means, whereby the lamp is operated.

I 3. In a device otthe class described, thev combination of a tubular casing, a cell or a battery of cells in said casing, means for connecting one pole of said cell or battery of cells to said casing, a lamp, a lamp reflector, a lamp socket in said reflector, one of the terminals of the lamp being connected to said reflector through said socket, the other terminal of the lamp being connected directly to the other pole of the cell or battery of cells, a layer of insulating. material around the rimof the reflector where the same is mounted in the casing, the other parts of the reflector being disengaged from the casing, a slidable member engaging the casing, a slot in the casing, a catch on the outside of the casing, means for connecting the slidable member to the catch extending through the casing, said slidable member engaging the reflector when operated, placing the casing in electrical communication with the reflector and completing a circuit through the lamp and cell or battery of cells including the reflector, the slidable member and the casing.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, means in said casing for generating an electric current, a lamp in said casing, a lamp reflector connected to one of the terminals of the lamp, the other terminal of the lamp being connected to said generatin means, means separate from the casing within said casing for insulating the reflector from the casing, a member for connecting the casing to the reflector when desired and completing an electrical connection between the lamp and the generating means and a device accessible from the outside for bringing said member into engagement with said reflector and disengaging ittherefrom.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a metal casing, means for generating an electric current, an insulating cover for the generating means,. a lamp mountin means for mounting the lamp within tie casing, insulating means within -the casing for insulating the lamp mounting means from the casing and means accessible from the outside'of the casing for brlnging said lamp mounting means in electrical engagement with the casing tooperate said lamp.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a casing, means in said casing and separate from the casing for generating an electric current, means to connect one pole of said generating means to said casing, a lamp in said casing having a ter minal connected to the other pole of said generating means, insulating m'eans entirely within the casing for insulating the other terminal of the lamp from the casing, apparatus for electrically connecting said insulated terminal of the lamp with said casing and means accessible from without the casing for; operating said apparatus.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, means Within said casing and separate from the casing for generating an electric current a lamp in said casing, a reflector for said lamp con nected toone of the terminals thereof and mounted in said casing, means entirely within said casing for insulating said refiector from one pole of said generating means, the other pole of the generating means being connected to the other terminal ofthe lamp and means to connect said reflector to the last named pole of the generating means to operate said lamp.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a metal casing, a lamp in said casing, a reflector in the casing connected toone terminal of the lamp, insulating means separate from and Within the casing between the casing and the reflector. insulating the casing from the'refiector, means in said casing for generating an electric current to operatethe lamp and apparatus for connecting the lamp and generating means in a circuit.

In witness whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two witnesses this '29 day of September, 1913.

RICHARD MAX EATON. I 

